The San Francisco Giants found their hitting stroke, scoring five and four runs in the second and third games of the series, respective.  However, they only won the middle game and bowed out of the series to the Seattle Mariners, two games to one.  

In the opener, the hitting malaise continued as the Giants wasted a strong start by Randy Johnson, who struck out seven and pitched shutout ball into the sixth inning, but the Giants fell in twelve innings, 2-1.   Jose Lopez drove in two:  including an RBI single that chased Johnson with one out in the sixth and a walkoff RBI single off Pat Misch in the final frame, making a loser of Justin Miller (1-1), despite two innings of no-hit ball.   Mariners starter Jason Vargas was dominant, shaking off a leadoff homerun by Aaron Rowand (5) to handcuff the Giants for seven innings of three hit ball, while picking up a no decision.  Sean White (1-0) pitched two shutout innings for the victory.

In the middle game, a bases loaded double by Juan Uribe sparked a five run, eighth inning rally off Mark Lowe (0-2), making a winner of Matt Cain (5-1) who tossed a complete game, striking out seven and scattering ten hits for the victory.   Fred Lewis added to the rally with a two run homerun (2). 

In the finale, Lewis continued his slugging with a solo shot (3) off Felix Hernandez (5-3).  However, Barry Zito (1-5) couldn’t hold a slim 3-2 lead in the fifth, surrendering the lead on a three run homerun by Adrian Beltre (3) in the bottom of the frame.  Ken Griffey Jr. homered (5) in the bottom of the first to start the scoring.   Hernandez struck out ten in eight innings. 

Overall, it’s nice to see the bats wake up a bit.  Two one run losses are hard to take, but it’s better to lose by a run if you score four than if you only score one, I guess.  The two out hitting is also coming alive as all four Giants runs in the finale came with two outs.  That’s nice to see.  Also nice to see Lewis starting to come alive.  Can’t beat that.  Ditto Rowand.  Pablo Sandoval missed the last 2 1/2 games with a tender elbow.  That’s going to require watching as it could be a key.  He’s necessary for the team to do anything.  He was designated hitter and went 2-2 with a double on Friday before being pulled for Rich Aurilia. 

The Giants made a few roster moves, moving Joe Martinez and Noah Lowry to the 60 day disabled list.  They also recalled catcher Eli Whiteside from Fresno and optioned Pat Misch back to the AAA affiliate.  They also activated Juan Uribe from the bereavement list and optioned Eugenio Velez to Fresno to make room. 

The Giants will next send Jonathan Sanchez against the visiting Atlanta Braves.   The Mariners will travel to Oakland, tomorrow night, to play the Athletics. 

Seeking to improve their bench, the San Francisco Giants assigned outfielder Andres Torres to San Jose and recalled infielder Kevin Frandsen from AAA Fresno.  Frandsen, who competed for the second base job in spring training, hit .291 with 3 homeruns for the Grizzlies this season. 

In an earlier move, the club sent struggling reliever Osiris Matos to class A San Jose and recalled middle reliever Pat Misch to the Giants.  This is obviously a calculated move as 2008 rookie phenom Sergio Romo was also sent to San Jose to rehab an injury that sidelined him for most of spring training.  His return will be greatly welcomed. 

Pinch Hitter Benjie Molina drove in Andres Torres with a deep single to provide for the only run in a 1-0, ten inning win for the San Francisco Giants over the San Diego Padres.  The win, the third in a row and fourth in a five game home stand for the Giants, completed a sweep of the two game series with the Padres.  Much maligned starter Barry Zito threw seven dominating innings and Brian Wilson tossed two innings for the victory in relief. 

In the first game of the series, Edgar Renteria smacked a grand slam off Jake Peavy and Matt Cain turned in his third consecutive quality start as the Giants drubbed San Diego, 8-3.  

Zito’s outing is the fifth straight quality start turned in by the Giants staff.  With an off day on Thursday, the Giants will skip Jonathan Sanchez’s spot in the rotation for the series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix on Friday.  Instead, ace Tim Lincecum will seek out his first win of 2009, facing Doug Davis for the second time in a week.  The two exchanged zeros for eight innings last Saturday before Arizona broke through against the Giant bullpen, prevailing 2-0 and giving Lincecum a no-decision. 

In other news, the Giants optioned left-handed reliever Alex Hinshaw to AAA Fresno and recalled catcher Steve Holm.  Hinshaw walked 5 batters in 7 appearances this year while compiling an ERA of 8.44.  In my opinion, he’ll be back soon, should he get his control back in the minors.  Holm will serve as a backup catcher to Molina.  He has yet to play a game in the major leagues this season.  For today’s game, Pablo Sandoval donned the mask behind the plate, his first such appearance this season. 

The San Francisco Giants signed minor league slugger Dallas McPherson to a minor league deal, assigning him to triple-A Fresno.  In 2008, McPherson hit 42 homeruns for Albuquerque, Florida’s AAA affiliate.  However, the third baseman also struck out 162 times, a theme that has followed him through his injury marred minor league career.  The 29 year old had several looks at the major league level and, while not horrible, has yet to dazzle.  I think he’s a younger version of Scott McClain, without the warm fuzzies we get when his name is mentioned.  Perhaps this is one we shouldn’t get overly excited about. 

In other news, doctors said that they want Joe Martinez to wait one month before resuming strenuous activities and two weeks before traveling via airplane.  This places the rookie reliever’s possible return to mid to late May. 

The San Francisco Giants placed rookie relief pitcher Joseph Martinez on the 15 day disabled list Friday, one day after he was struck by a batted ball.  After being diagnosed with a concussion and three hairline fractures on the right side of his head, Martinez remains in the hospital, where he is expected to spend the next three to four days under observation.

The Giants purchased the contract of veteran reliever Justin Miller to fill Martinez’s spot.  Miller pitched well in the spring training and was one of the last players to be cut from the roster.  

The San Francisco Giants made their final roster moves, with some surprises, heading in to Tuesday’s opener against the Milwaukee Brewers. 

In trimming back to the final 25, the team decided to go with a 12 man pitching staff, designating Luis Perdomo for assignment while purchasing the contract of Brandon Medders from AAA Fresno.  As Perdomo is a Rule 5 pickup, they will have to offer him back to the St. Louis Cardinals since he’s not remaining on the 25 man roster.  More on that as it develops. 

In other moves, the Giants optioned catcher Steve Holm to Fresno, leaving them with just one full time catcher in Benjie Molina.  Third baseman Pablo Sandoval will moonlight as a backup backstop until later in the season (probably right after the first month, which is laden with off days, and at which time the Giants will have a little better idea of the type of team that they are fielding), when Holm is expected to be recalled.  Relief pitcher Justin Miller was reassigned to minor league camp.  Expect him back some time this season.  Also, the contracts of Juan Uribe and Rich Aurilia were purchased from Fresno.  Both veterans will start the season on the Giants roster.  Finally, pitcher Noah Lowry and reliever Sergio Romo will both open the season on the 15 day disabled list. 

The 2009 San Francisco Giants opening day roster is as follows:

Starting Rotation: Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, Randy Johnson, Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito.

Bullpen: Alex Hinshaw, Bob Howry,  Joseph Martinez, Brandon Medders,  Merkin Valdez, Brian Wilson, Jeremy Affeldt,

Starters:

C: Benjie Molina.

1B:  Travis Ishikawa

2B:  Emmanuel Burriss

SS:  Edgar Renteria

3B:  Pablo Sandoval

RF:  Randy Winn

CF:  Aaron Rowand

LF:  Fred Lewis

Bench: Rich Aurilia (IF), Juan Uribe (IF), Eugenio Velez (UT), Nate Schierholtz (OF), Andres Torres (OF)

With General Manager Brian Sabean stating that second year player Emmanuel Burris ‘won the job outright’, the Giants optioned Kevin Frandsen to AAA Fresno, ending the heated competition for second base.  A favorite with both fans and teammates, Frandsen, who missed most of 2008 with an achilles injury, will probably serve in a multipurpose role for the Grizzlies, moving around the infield to fill needs. 

It had been widely expected that the loser of the competition would remain on the Giants in the capacity of a backup.  The move all but guarantees that veterans Rich Aurilia and Juan Uribe will both remain on the club going into the season.   However, keeping in mind the situation the Giants had in 2008 when Eugenio Velez fizzled coming out of camp, it’s safe to think Frandsen will be back sometime this season.  However, should Burriss excel, perhaps look for the Giants to eventually try to trade Frandsen.  It won’t be too hard to find a taker for his hard nosed style of play.  

In other moves, the Giants reassigned slugging phenom Jesus Guzman to minor league camp, citing his need to find a defensive position.   I can’t imagine he won’t be back with the big league club at some time.

Hours after acquiring catcher Ronny Paulino from the Philadelphia Phillies for Jack Taschner, the San Francisco Giants traded him to the Florida Marlins in exchange for right-handed minor leaguer Hector Correa.  Correa, who has worked primarily as a starter over parts of three seasons, has compiled a record of 7-8 in that time with an equally unimpressive ERA of 4.52 in that time.  Rumor from the Giants front office is that Correa has potential upside.  Didn’t we hear that same thing about Vinnie Chulk and Randy Messenger (and myriad others)?   That and a dollar will buy you a cup of coffee.  We’ll see how this plays out.

Personally, I can’t imagine that this move will have a significant impact on the Giants.  However, it does improve the chances of Steve Holm of making the opening day roster (barring either a free agent pick up or the front office deciding that Buster Posey is ready to play at the major league level). 

The San Francisco Giants pulled the trigger on a long rumored deal by sending inconsistent left-handed reliever Jack Taschner to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for catcher Ronny Paulino. 

Paulino, who was traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Phillies in December 2008, is expected to compete with Steve Holm to be the Giants backup catcher. 

Taschner had spent all ten seasons of his professional career with the Giants organization. 

This move will free up some of the logjam in the bullpen as Taschner, who signed a new contract in the offseason, was expected to be a lock as a left handed reliever.  Basically, this means that the Jeremy Affeldt signing equals a straight replacement of Taschner in the bullpen. 

In a move echoing their commitment to a youth movement, the San Francisco Giants released veteran outfielder Dave Roberts, parting ways with a player whose tenure with the team could be described as underwhelming, at best.  Since signing a three year, $18 million contract with the Giants prior to the 2007 season, Roberts has spent substantial time on the disabled list and has never been the table setter originally envisioned by the Giant brass.   His release signals a vote of confidence for Nate Schierholtz and suggests that the Giants are serious about giving the talented young player a serious look as their number four outfielder in 2009.   The Giants are still obligated to pay Roberts contract for 2009, however. 

In other moves, relief pitchers Keiichi Yabu and Kelvin Pichardo were both optioned to AAA Fresno.  Yabu played a significant role in the Giants bullpen in 2008, appearing in 60 games.